Multiple load storage and transfer apparatus

ABSTRACT

A storage deck is equipped with a plurality of bunks connected to endless chains for receiving and storing preformed loads such as logs. These bunks are movable toward or away from a vehicle station beyond one end of the deck. A transfer carriage has vertically movable bunks to lift a load off the deck bunks and extend the load over a truck such as a log truck. Then the carriage lowers the load onto the truck and retracts clear of the truck, allowing the truck to depart with its load. The apparatus remains in readiness to transfer the next load to another empty truck as soon as one becomes available. In the meantime, other deck bunks are being filled with loads to keep a supply of the preformed loads on hand so that loads are always available when an empty truck arrives without causing any delay in the trucking operations and without any delay in the load preforming operations. The apparatus is also operable in reverse sequence to store loads received from trucks.

[451' July 23, 1974 MULTIPLE LOAD STORAGE AND [57] ABSTRACT A storage deck is equipped with a plurality of bunks connected to endless chains for receiving and storing TRANSFER APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Dossie M. Batson, 1503 N. Hayden Dr., No. 35, Portland, Oreg. 97217 Dec. 20, 1972 preformed loads such as logs. These bunks are mov- [22] Filed:

[21] Appl.No.:316,846

able toward or away from a vehicle station beyond one end of the deck. A transfer carriage has vertically movable bunks to lift a load off the deck bunks and extend the load over a truck such as a log truck. Then [52] US. 214/38 C, 214/89, 214/670,

214/730 the carriage lowers the load onto the truck and re- B65 67/12 tracts clear of the truck, allowing the truck to depart g with its load. The apparatus remains-in readiness to [51] Int.

Field of Search..............

2] 4/730 transfer the next load to another empty truck as soon as one becomes available. ln the meantime, other References Cited deck bunks are being filled with loads to keep a supply UNITED STATES PATENTS of the preformed loads on hand so that loads are always available when an empty truck arrives without causing any delay in the trucking operations and without any delay in the load preforming operations. The apparatus is also operable in reverse sequence to store loads received from trucks.

Baldwin Sutton.....

3,430,794 3/1969 Nash.,......

Primary Examiner-Robert G. I Sheridan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lee R. Schermerhorn Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEflJuLzamm SHEET 1 0F 4 PATENTEDJULZEHQM I SHEET 2 (IF 4 BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to a multiple load storage and transfer apparatus. While the apparatus is not limited to any particular types of loads, it is of particular advantage in the logging industry, as for example, in connection with the trucking of loadsof logs to a vmill.

Apparatus heretofore proposed for this purpose has been too complicated and expensive to be practical. There is a need for a simple and less expensive apparatus for storing preformed loads so that the trucking operation will not have to be closely coordinated with the logging operation. There is a need for practical and efficient apparatus having astorage capacity so that the load preforming operation can continue during intervals when there are no trucks to take the loads away and so that the trucking operation can continue during intervals when new loads are not being accumulated.

Objects of the invention are, therefore, to provide an improved multiple load storage and transfer apparatus, to provide apparatus of the type described having the ability to form and store pre-loads until trucks are available to take them away, to provide apparatus of the type described having the ability to transfer loads quickly to or from trucks or other vehicles, and to provide an improved form of construction which is economical to manufacture and reliable in operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present apparatus comprises, essentially, a storage deck and a transfer carriage. The storage deck is equipped with a plurality of load carriers such as bunks for logs mounted on endless chains for movement to or from one end of the deck. The deck bunks receive preloads which may be formed continuously as the logs arrive from the woods. The transfer carriage normally assumes a position under the deck bunks at the discharge end of the deck.

When an empty truck arrives to receive a load, bunks on the transfer carriage raise the load of the deck bunks and move it to a position over the truck. Then the carriage bunks lower the load onto the truck and the carriage retracts, allowing the loaded truck to proceed with a minumum loss of time. While the transfer operation is taking place, other deck bunks may be receiving new pre-loads for temporary storage.

The forming of the pre-loads in the deck bunks does not have to be coordinated with the arrivals and departures of the trucks whereby the two operations proceed independently of each other with maximum efficiency for both. There is always a load available when a truck arrives to pick it up so that the driver doesnt have to wait on the preloading crew and there is always storage space available for a new pre-load so that the preloading crew doesnt have to wait for a truck to take away an existing load before a new load may be assembled.

The apparatus may be arranged to operate in a reverse sequence to store loads received from trucks, as at a lumber mill for example. Also, the load carriers may take other forms, in place of bunks, for handling other types of loads.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Various changes may be made,'however,-in the details of construction and arrangement of parts and certain features maybe used without others. All such modifications within the scope of the appended claims are included in the invention.

"BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view on the line 2-2 in FIG. 1, showing a first step in the operation of the transfer carriage;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing a second step in the operation of the transfer carriage;

FIG. 4 is aside elevation view with parts broken away, showing a stake mounting on a deck bunk;

FIG. 5 is a view on the line 5--5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation view of a deck bunk on the underside of the deck, showing a minor modification;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation view showing a modification of the carriage actuating mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the apparatus in FIG. 7 v

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS F IG. 1 is a general view of the apparatus. An elevated storage deck A supports load carriers in the form of bunks B which are arranged to move their preformed loads from left to right toward the truck T at a vehicle station S beyond the end of the deck. At the right end of the deck a transfer carriage C lifts a load off the deck bunks B as shown in FIG. 2, shifts the load to the right over the truck T and lowers the load at L onto the truck bunk l0 and trailer bunk 11 as shown in FIG. 3. The trailer isconnected to the truck by the usual reach pole 12. Then the carriage bunk stakes fold down and the carriage retracts to the left clear of the truck, allowing the truckto proceed with its load which is bound by chains 13.

By reversing the sequence of operations in FIGS. 2 and 3, the load L may be transferred from truck T to bunks B for storage on deck A.

The deck A comprises a pair of parallel channel track beams 15 and 16 supported in elevated position by suitable pillars 17. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each deck bunk B has a horizontal bunk frame 20 equipped with wheels 21 to roll in the channels 15 and 16, these channels being omitted in FIGS. 2 and 3. A depending bracket 22 on the underside of each bunk frame 20 carries a pin 23 for pivotal connection with an endless chain 25. There are two chains 25, one having an upper reach sliding in the channel 15 and the other having an upper reach sliding in the channel 16.

Each chain 25 is trained around a drive sprocket 26 at the left end of the deck A and an idler sprocket 27 at the right end of the deck. The lower reaches of chains 25 return under the channels 15 and 16, the pin connections at 23 permitting the bunks B to travel around the end sprockets 27, or both end sprockets 26 and 27 if desired. The two chains 25 are driven by an electric motor 28 which is belted to a common shaft 29 that rotates the drive sprockets 26 for both chains. Both end sprockets 26 and 27 may be motor driven if desired and the sprockets at one end of the deck may have sliding adjustment to take up slack in the chains.

In a logging installation the loaded bunks B are driven from left to right in FIGS. 2 and 3 for loading trucks T, while in a mill installation the loaded bunks B are driven from right to left for unloading the trucks.

An L-shaped stake is pivotally mounted at 36 on each end of bunk frame 20. When the bunks are empty, a horizontal toe portion 37 of each stake is raised to a small angle by a spring 38 in FIG. 4, causing the upper ends of the stakes to spread apart in inclined positions as indicated in broken lines to facilitate receiving a preformed load. As soon as the load is brought to bear on toe portions 37, the upper ends of the stakes close toward each other in vertical positions as shown in solid lines and squeeze the load.

Pivot 36 is located in such position that the weight of toe portion 37 holds stake 35 upright when the bunk is empty. A shoe 39 on the upper end of the stake slides on rail 40 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 during travel under the deck. Suitable means may be provided to limit the pivotal movement of the stake on pivot 36.

For longer stakes the end of each toe portion 37 is equipped with a shoe 39 which slides on a rail 40 for movement of the bunks under-the deck as shown in FIG. 6. In this modification the pivotal movement of the stake on pivot 36 is not limited and the stakes may be manually erected when the bunks return to the top of the deck.

Referring back to FIG. 1, carriage C has a frame equipped with four wheels 51 to roll on the ground or. a suitable trackway. At each end of frame 50 an upright 52 is connected with a hollow horizontal beam 53 containing a fluid pressure cylinder and piston unit 54. The head end of the cylinder is connected to frame 50 and the outer end of the piston rod is connected to a pin 55 in astationary post 56. The piston rod is protected by a tubular housing 57 which telescopes into the beam 53 guided by rollers 58. The outer end of housing 57 is also pivotally connected to pin 55.

A bunk 60 is mounted for vertical movement on each upright 52 of the carriage 50. Each bunk 60 comprises a horizontal tubular beam 61, an outer stake 62 and an inner stake 63. Each tubular beam 61 is raised and lowered by a vertical fluid pressure cylinder and piston unit 65 in the upright 52. These parts are guided and protected by telescoping casing sections 66.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the uprights 52 are positioned to the left of the center of the carriage base so that the base portion of the frame will extend under the reach pole 12 of the trailer and provide stable support for a load on the carriage bunks 60 when the load is positioned directly above the truck and trailer bunks l0 and 11. The load overhangs the uprights 52 farther on the right side than on the left side, as shown in FIG. 2.

The inside of tubular beam 61 contains a double acting fluid pressure cylinder 69 for a piston 70 on a piston rod 71 connected with outer stake 62 as shown in FIG. 9. When fluid pressure is admitted to the head end of this cylinder, piston 70 and stake 62- are moved outward, to the right in FIG. 9, by the sliding movement of journal portion 72 in tube 61. A radial pin 73 in journal 72 is guided by a curved cam slot 74 in the outer end of tubular beam 61, causing the stake 62 to rotate down to horizontal position as it moves outward as shown in FIG. 8. This allows stake 62 to pass under a load L on the truck and trailer bunks 10 and II when the carriage C retracts to the left away from the log truck in FIG. 3.

In a similar manner, inner stake 63 in FIG. 9 is connected to a piston rod 76 on a piston 77 in a double acting fluid pressure cylinder 78. When fluid pressure is admitted to the head end of cylinder 78, piston rod 76 and stake 63 are moved outward a short distance to clear the left side of the load L after the load has been deposited on truck bunks 10 and 11. During this outward movement, a radial pin 79 in journal portion 72 travels in a curved cam slot 80 in the outer end of tubular beam 61 to rotate the stake 63 down to horizontal position so as to pass under a waiting load on the next deck bunk B which has been moved up to the transfer station at the end of the deck.

When fluid pressure is admitted to the rod ends of cylinders 69 and 78 the stakes 62 and 63 are rotated upright and drawn together to squeeze and lift a load on a waiting deck bunk B as shown in FIG. 2.

It will be observed that the channels 15 and 16 carrying the deck bunks B are spaced apart approximately the same distance as the bunks l0 and 11 on the truck and trailer. The carriage bunks 60 are spaced closer together, allowing them to travel inside the deck bunks B and the truck and trailer bunks 10 and 11. As shown in FIG. 8, the stakes 62 and 63 on the two bunks 60 rotate toward each other in approaching horizontal position in order-to avoid conflict with the bunks B and the bunks l0 and 11. In FIG. 9 the carriage bunk stakes 62 and 63 are shown in retracted load-carrying vertical positions while in FIG. 8 all four bunk stakes are shown in extended horizontal positions after releasing a load.

FIG. 7 shows a modification having a cable arrangement for multiplying the motion of the carriage C. A double acting cylinder mounted on a stationary post 91 contains a piston having a piston rod 92 carrying a pair of pulleys 93 and 94. Carriage C is equipped with a pulley 95 and an anchor point 96 for one end of a wire rope 97 which is trained around the pulleys 94 and 95 and secured at its other end at an anchor point 98 on the post 91. A bracket arm 100 on carriage C has an anchor point 101 for one end of a rope 102 which is trained around the pulley 93 and secured at its other end at anchor point 98. This arrangement permits a single cylinder and piston rod only half as long as required in the direct coupled dual cylinder arrangement in FIG. 1.

The bunks in the FIG. 7 modification are the same as bunks 60 in FIG. 1 and the bunk structure shown in FIG. 9 applies to FIG. 1 as well as FIG. 7.

Preferably, the deck bunks B swing around end sprockets 27 to positions under deck A after they are unloaded and the empty bunks are subsequently returned around sprockets 27 to the top of the deck for re-loading, in back and forth movements. If desired, however, the deck bunks may return around sprockets 26 to the top of the deck with chains 25 travelling always in the same direction. As explained above, these movements are reversed in a mill installation where the loads are delivered by truck and stored on deck bunks B. Other types of loads may be stored and transferred in similar manner by substituting appropriate load carriers for the present bunks.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same maybe used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A multiple load storage and transfer apparatus comprising a storage deck, a vehicle station beyond one end of said storage deck, load carriers on said deck for holding a plurality of loads in storage, means for moving said carriers toward and away from said vehicle station, a transfer carriage, a load carrier on said transfer carriage, means on said transfer carriage to transfer a load from a carrier on said deck to said carrier on said carriage and then to a vehicle at said station, said last means also being capable of transferring a load from said vehicle to said carrier on said. carriage and then to said carriers on said deck, and means for moving said carriage between said end of said storage deck and said vehicle station to effect said transfers eitherto or from said vehicle, said means for moving said deck carriers comprising endless chains having return flights for moving empty deck carriers beneath said deck, said transfer means on said carriage comprising lift means for raising and lowering said load carrier on said carriage, said transfer carriage being movable under a load on said end of said deck and under a load on said vehicle to lift and transfer said loads, said load carriers on said deck comprising bunks for carrying elongated objects, and said load carrier on said carriage having bunks for carrying said objects, L-shaped stakes pivotally mounted on said deck bunks, said stakes having horizontal lower portions underlying a load on the bunks to hold the stakes vertical when the bunks are loaded, and means tilting said stakes outward when the bunks are unloaded.

2. A multiple load storage and transfer apparatus comprising a storage deck, a vehicle station beyond one end of said storage deck, load carriers on said deck for holding a plurality of loads in storage, means for moving said carriers toward and away from said vehicle station, a transfer carriage, a load carrier on said transfer carriage, means on said transfer carriage to transfer a load from a carrier on said deck to said carrier on said carriage and then to a vehicle at said station, said last means also being capable of transferring a load from said vehicle to said carrier on said carriage and then to said carriers on said deck, and means for moving said carraige between said end of said storage deck and said vehicle station to effect said transfers either to or from said vehicle, said means for moving said deck carriers comprising endless chains having return flights for moving empty deck carriers beneath said deck, said transfer means on said carriage comprising lift means for raising and lowering said load carrier on said carriage, said transfer carriage being movable under a load on said end of said deck and under a load on said vehicle to lift and transfer said loads, said load carriers on said deck comprising bunks for carrying elongated objects, and said load carrier on said carriage having bunks for carrying said objects, said carriage bunks,

having upright stakes movable'to horizontal positions to pass under loads on said deck and on said vehicle.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, said stakeson tracted positions as the each carriage bunk being mounted on opposite ends of a tubular horizontal beam, said stakes being rotatable on the axis of said beam between said upright and horizontal positions.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 including fluid pressure cylinder and piston means in said beam for moving said stakes outward beyond the ends of said beam, and spiral cams on said beam for rotating said stakes downward as the stakes are moved outward.

5. A multiple load storage and transfer apparatus for loads of elongated objects such as logs, comprising a storage deck, said storage deck comprising a pair of parallel tracks and elongated deck bunks movable lengthwise on said tracks for carrying said loads in transverse positions with one end of each load supported by a bunk on one of said tracks and the opposite end of the 'load supported by a bunk on the other track,

means for moving said bunks on said tracks, upright stakes on the ends of said bunks for confining said loads, a vehicle station beyond one end of said deck, a

transfer carriage between said tracks, means for moving said transfer carriage under said loads on said deck bunks to said vehicle station, a pair of carriage bunks on said carriage disposed between and parallel with said tracks, lift meanson said carriage for raising and lowering said carriage bunks, upright stakes on the ends of said carriage bunks, means for retracting said carriage stakes to pass under loads on said deck bunks and under loads on vehicles at said station, and means to move said carriage stakes on each carriage bunk' toward each other to squeeze a load for transfer from a deck bunk to a vehicle or from said vehicle to a deck bunk.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, said means for moving said deck bunks on said tracks comprising conveyor chains.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 including means for moving said stakes on each deck bunk toward each other to squeeze a load on said deck bunks.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, said means for moving said deck bunk stakes toward each other to squeeze a load comprising pivotal mountings for said stakes on said deck bunks and angular toe portions on the lower ends of said stakes actuated by a load on the bunk to swing the upper ends of the stakes toward each other.

. 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, said means for moving said transfer carriage comprising a fluid pressure cylinder and piston.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, said carriage bunks each comprising a tubular horizontal beam and said carriage stakes being rotatable on the axis of said beambetween upright load carrying positions and horizontal retracted positions.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, including fluid pressure cylinder and piston means in each of said carriage bunk beams for moving said carriage stakes outward beyond the ends of the beam, and spiral cams on said beam for rotating said stakes down to said restakes are moved outward. 

1. A multiple load storage and transfer apparatus comprising a storage deck, a vehicle station beyond one end of said storage deck, load carriers on said deck for holding a plurality of loads in storage, means for moving said carriers toward and away from said vehicle station, a transfer carriage, a load carrier on said transfer carriage, means on said transfer carriage to transfer a load from a carrier on said deck to said carrier on said carriage and then to a vehicle at said station, said last means also being capable of transferring a load from said vehicle to said carrier on said carriage and then to said carriers on said deck, and means for moving said carriage between said end of said storage deck and said vehicle station to effect said transfers either to or from said vehicle, said means for moving said deck carriers comprising endless chains having return flights for moving empty deck carriers beneath said deck, said transfer means on said carriage comprising lift means for raising and lowering said load carrier on said carriage, said transfer carriage being movable under a load on said end of said deck and under a load on said vehicle to lift and transfer said loads, said load carriers on said deck comprising bunks for carrying elongated objects, and said load carrier on said carriage having bunks for carrying said objects, L-shaped stakes pivotally mounted on said deck bunks, said stakes having horizontal lower portions underlying a load on the bunks to hold the stakes vertical when the bunks are loaded, and means tilting said stakes outward when the bunks are unloaded.
 2. A multiple load storage and transfer apparatus comprising a storage deck, a vehicle station beyond one end of said storage deck, load carriers on said deck for holding a plurality of loads in storage, means for moving said carriers toward and away from said vehicle station, a transfer carriage, a load carrier on said transfer carriage, means on said transfer carriage to transfer a load from a carrier on said deck to said carrier on said carriage and then to a vehicle at said station, said last means also being capable of transferring a load from said vehicle to said carrier on said carriage and then to said carriers on said deck, and means for moving said carraige between said end of said storage deck and said vehicle station to effect said transfers either to or from said vehicle, said means for moving said deck carriers comprising endless chains having return flights for moving empty deck carriers beneath said deck, said transfer means on said carriage comprising lift means for raising and lowering said load carrier on said carriage, said transfer carriage being movable under a load on said end of said deck and under a load on said vehicle to lift and transfer said loads, said load carriers on said deck comprising bunks for carrying elongated objects, and said load carrier on said carriage having bunks for carrying said objects, said carriage bunks having upright stakes movable to horizontal positions to pass under loads on said deck and on said vehicle.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, said stakes on each carriage bunk being mounted on opposite ends of a tubular horizontal beam, said stakes being rotatable on the axis of said beam between said upright and horizontal positions.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 including fluid pressure cylinder and piston means in said beam for moving said stakes outward beyond the ends of said beam, and spiral cams on said beam for rotating said stakes downward as the stakes are moved outward.
 5. A multiple load storage and transfer apparatus for loads of elongated objects such as logs, comprising a storage deck, said storage deck comprising a pair of parallel tracks and elongated deck bunks movable lengthwise on said tracks for carrying said loads in transverse positions with one end of each load supported by a bunk on one of said tracks and the opposite end of the load supported by a bunk on the other track, means for moving said bunks on said tracks, upright stakes on the ends of said bunks for confining said loads, a vehicle station beyond one end of said deck, a transfer carriage between said tracks, means for moving said transfer carriage under said loads on said deck bunks to said vehicle station, a pair of carriage bunks on said carriage disposed between and parallel with said tracks, lift means on said carriage for raising and lowering said carriage bunks, upright stakes on the ends of said carriage bunks, means for retracting said carriage stakes to pass under loads on said deck bunks and under loads on vehicles at said station, and means to move said carriage stakes on each carriage bunk toward each other to squeeze a load for transfer from a deck bunk to a vehicle or from said vehicle to a deck bunk.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, said means for moving said deck bunks on said tracks comprising conveyor chains.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 including means for moving said stakes on each deck bunk toward each other to squeeze a load on said deck buNks.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, said means for moving said deck bunk stakes toward each other to squeeze a load comprising pivotal mountings for said stakes on said deck bunks and angular toe portions on the lower ends of said stakes actuated by a load on the bunk to swing the upper ends of the stakes toward each other.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, said means for moving said transfer carriage comprising a fluid pressure cylinder and piston.
 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, said carriage bunks each comprising a tubular horizontal beam and said carriage stakes being rotatable on the axis of said beam between upright load carrying positions and horizontal retracted positions.
 11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, including fluid pressure cylinder and piston means in each of said carriage bunk beams for moving said carriage stakes outward beyond the ends of the beam, and spiral cams on said beam for rotating said stakes down to said retracted positions as the stakes are moved outward. 